Web splicing machine



6 Sheets-Sheet l April 19, 1955 A. J.' EvERs WEB SPLICING MACHINE FiledSept. 10, 1952 JNVENToR. APN/umn ivf/vs BY v April 19, 1 EVERS v v WEBsPLIcING MACHINE:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 1o, 1952 INVENTOA ARTHUR d .Q /Ws gf April19, 1955 Filed Sept. l0, 1952 A. J. EVERS v WEB SPLICING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. ,2mn/uf? d. [v5/Ps GENT April 19, 1955 A. J.E-vERs WEB SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 10, 1952 ZZINVENToR.

Af? rHa/P d. {Vf/Ps April 19, 1955 A. J. EvERs 2,706,515

WEB SPLICING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o, 1952 6 sheds-sheet 5 INVENToR.ART/fw? d Fl/f/'s GENT 'April 19, 1955 Filed Sept. l0, l1952 A. J. EVERSWEB SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 k BY AGENT nited States Patent()WEB SPLICING MACHINE Arthur J. Evers, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor toInternational Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication September 10, 1952, Serial No. 308,827 Claims. (Cl.154-42.3)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in web splicingmachines generally, and particularly seeks to provide a novel machinefor automatically butt-splicing the lead end of a fresh roll ofpaperboard to the tag end of the previously used roll of paperboard andto supply a continuous web of paperboard from the splicing stations to asubsequent operation-performing machine under conditions of controlledfeed.

In the production of paperboard containers such as milk cartons a supplyof paper is withdrawn from a roll thereof and fed into a printing orother operations-performing machine, as a result of which individualcontainer blanks may be printed and cut out. Modern machines forperforming these functions operate at a web speed of several hundredfeet a minute, and accordingly, the lost time involved in transferringsupply rolls of paperboard becomes substantial either when a splice froma new roll to an old is made manually after stopping the equipment orwhen the old roll is permitted to completely run out and the lead end ofa fresh roll is introduced to the operating equipment. In either casethere is a considerable amount of wastage resulting from inaccuraciesoccurring when the operating equipment is brought up to speed.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is capable ofautomatically performing a butt-splice between the lead end of a freshsupply of paperboard and the tag end of the used supply roll ofpaperboard while the web is being moved. A web-splicer constructed inaccordance with this invention includes also a pair of uniquely operabledraw rolls for constantly pulling the paperboard from the supply rolltherof under such conditions that as it is fed from the supply rolls toan associated printing or blank cutting machine no drag is transmittedfrom the supply roll to the associated operating machine and the tensiontogether with the rate of feed from the draw roll to the operatingmachine is automatically adjusted.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide a machine forautomatically performing butt-splices between two moving webs ofpaperboard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated in which means are provided for transversely cuttingthe tag end of an expiring supply of paperboard while simultaneouslyfeeding the lead end of a fresh supply of paperboard.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated which includes means elective after the trailing end ofthe expiring paperboard and the lead end of the fresh supply thereofhave been placed in abutting relationship to apply an adhesive tapeacross the buttseam whereby to join the two together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated in which the web of paperboard is drawn by a pair ofconstantly operable draw rolls and in which the cutting,butt-positioning and taping of the abutted webs is effected throughmechanisms operated only through a single cycle for each splicingoperation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated in which the draw rolls are driven from a primarysource of power through planetary gear connections and in which asecondary source of power is provided to vary the position of thenormally stationary gear of the planetary system whereby to effect speedchanges of the draw rolls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated in which actuation of the planetary gearing-adjustingmeans is automatically effected by apparent changes in tension of thepaperboard web after it leaves its engagement from between the drawrolls.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will be moreapparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference tothe drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a web-splicing machine constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a left-end elevation thereof with certain of the parts beingdeleted in order more clearly to illustrate the general organization;

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 2and shows the position of the cutting rolls prior to the starting of asplicing cycle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section similar to Fig. 4 but showsthe position of the rolls at the instant the expiring web is being cut;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken along theline 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 2and shows the positions of the taping rolls prior to the start of asplicing cycle;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 7 and shows thepositions of the tape rolls as the tape is being applied to the buttjoint between the old and new Webs;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged broken horizontal section taken along line 9-9 ofFig. l;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken along line 10-10 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through theplanetary drive taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l2 is a longitudinal section taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated isembodied in an automatic web-splicing machine which includes aweb-cutting station generally indicated at A, a taping station generallyindicated at B, main draw rolls generally indicated at C adapted to bedriven through a planetary gear box generally indicated at D, and webtension control means generally indicated at E, all adapted to be drivenfrom a primary source of power through a gear box generally indicated atF. The supply roll of paperboard which is being exhausted is indicatedat G and a fresh supply roll of paperboard is indicated at H.

The entire machine is carried by a main frame which includes a frontframe member S and a rear frame member 6 to which is rigidly affixed thegear box F. The

machine is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power butpreferably from a power take-off of an associated printing or cartonblank cutting machine through a main drive shaft 7 which is connected tothe gear box F through a coupling 8 which is connected to a longitudinalshaft 9 entering into the gear box F and carrying at its inner end abevel gear 10. The bevel gear 10 meshes with a similar bevel gear 11carried on a transverse shaft 12 and provided with an extension carryinga sprocket gear 13. A clutch generally indicated at 14 is carried by theshaft 12 and includes a slidable clutching and declutching collar 15 anda driven element 16. The driven element 16 of the clutch assembly 14carries with it a pinion gear 17 which meshes with a large diameterintermediate gear 18 rotatably carried by the rear frame member 6. Poweris thus adapted to be transmitted by the main drive shaft 7 throughintermediate gear 18 in order to drive the operative rolls at thecutting and taping stations A and B.

The taping station A includes an upper roll 19 carried by a shaft 20journalled between the frame members 5 and 6 and provided at its rearend with a pinion 21. A lower roll 22 carried by a shaft 23 is disposedimmediately beneath the roll 19 and is provided at its rear end with apinion 24 which is engaged in meshing relationship with the upper pinion21 and the large intermediate gear 18.

As will be seen from Fig. l of the drawings, the intermediate gear 18rotates in a counterclockwise direction while the lower pinion 24rotates in a clockwise direction and the upper pinion 21 rotatescounterclockwise. In this manner the rolls 19 and 22 are rotated inopposite directions in order to effect cutting operations at the stationA in the same direction as the normal feed of the webs G and H of thepaperboard.

The upper roll 19 may be termed the knife roll and is provided with aresilient outer covering 25 around the major portion of its periphery.The roll 19 is also provided with an axial bore 26 adapted to beconnected as by suitable pipe connections 27 to a source of vacuum. Theroll 19 is also provided with a plurality of aligned cuplike recesses 28which enter into open communication with the axial bore 26 through acorresponding number of radial ducts 29, in order that the leadingportion of a new supply of paperboard may be retained in contact withthe surface of the roll by action of the vacuum pulled through therecesses 28. Immediately adjacent the line of recesses 28 the roll 19 isprovided with a longitudinal groove 30 adapted to receive and retain aknife assembly generally indicated at 31. The knife assembly 31 includesa pair of clamp blocks 32 and 33 between which is adapted to be held aradially extending knife blade 34 by suitable securing devices such as aplurality of clamp screws 35. The knife assembly 31 is retained withinthe groove 30 as by a plurality of securing screws 36. It will be notedby reference to Fig. of the drawings in particular that the cutting edgeof `the knife blade 34 projects slightly beyond the surface of theresilient covering 25 of the roll 19.

As viewed particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings it will be notedthat the lower roll 22 is provided with a horizontally disposed iiat 37which provides clearance between the rolls 22 and 19 when the websplicer is not actually being operated. A second at 38 is formed on thesurface of the roll 22 to the left of the fiat 37 as viewed in Figs. 4and 5 and carries a rigidly aliixed hard metal cutting or anvil plate 39secured by suitable screws 40, the crown of which lies substantiallywithin the cylinder dened by the roll 22. It will be noted that the at38 and its associated anvil plate 39 are angularly offset from thevertical axis through the roll 22 by an amount substantially equal tothe angular displacement of the knife blade 34 as viewed in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings. In this manner the knife blade and the cutting anvil willcome into line contact as the rolls 19 and 22 are rotated and thuseffect a severing of a paperboard web which may be interposedtherebetween.

The rearwardly projecting end of the shaft 23 carries rigidly aixedthereto a face cam 41 including a high lift surface 42 and a quickrelease surface 43. The cam 41 is operatively engaged periodically by aplate cam follower 44 (see Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly affixed to the upperend of a rock arm 45 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 46 between theend walls of the gear box F and having its lower end operativelyconnected as at 47 to the slidable clutch collar 15.

The fron-t frame member 5 is provided with a pair of forwardlyprojecting lugs 48, 48 which pivotally support the lower end of a clutchoperating handle 49. A pitman or connecting link 50 has one endpivotally connected to the rock arm 45 as at 51 and the other endpivotally connected to the clutch handle 49 as at 52 through the mediumof a lost motion slot 53 formed in the adjacent end of the pitman 50. Atension spring 54 is connected between the pivot 52 and the frame member5 and constantly-tends to bias the clutch handle 49 to the left, asviewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in order to maintain the clutch 14 inan inoperative or non-driving state.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that when theclutch handle 49 is pulled forwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 3the rock arm 45 will be oscillated slightly in a clockwise direction tomove the clutch collar to the left to engage -the clutch and to drivethe rolls of the cutting station A as well as those of the tapingstation B. When the clutch is thus engaged the plate cam follower 44will be moved into position for engagement with the cam surface 42 ofthe cam 41, and since it is only a single lift lobe on the cam 41 onerevolution of the shaft 23 will effect return movement of the follower44 and the rock arm 45 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to thus againdisengage the clutch and stop rotation of the cutting and taping rollsafter a single revolution.

In order to prevent overriding upon the completion of a singlerevolution the clutch 14 may be provided with suigasble brakingapparatus, diagrammatically indicated at The taping station B includesan upper roll 56 covered by a rubber or other resilient material 57 androtatably supported between the frame members 5 and 6 on stub end shafts58, 58. The rear stub shaft 58 projects beyond the frame member 6 andhas rigidly affixed thereto a gear 59 of the same diameter and number ofteeth as the gear 21. The roll 56 and its resilient covering 57 areprovided with two parallel rows of radially disposed apertures 60through which a vacuum may be pulled from the interior of the roll as bya pipe 61 rotatably carried wi-thin the rear stub shaft 58. The two rowsof apertures 60 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to temporarilyhold a strip of adhesive tape used to bind together the butt jointbetween the webs of paperboard to be spliced.

A lower roll 62 having a at 63 is journalled beneath the upper roll 56by suitable stub shafts extending between the front and rear framemembers 5 and 6 and carries at its rear end a gear 64 of the samediameter and number of teeth as the gear 59 and meshes both with thegear 59 and the intermediate driving gear 18. It will be apparent fromthe foregoing that the roll gears 21, 24, 59, and 64 are all of the samediameter and number of teeth and that the gears 24 and 64 are in meshingengagement with the intermediate driving gear 18 in order that the rollsof the cutting station A and the taping station B may be simultaneouslydriven at identical speeds.

A valve assembly generally indicated at 65 is fastened to the rear framemember 6 in a position slightly above and between the rolls 19 and 56. Apipe 66 connects the valve assembly with any suitable source of vacuum(not shown) and it may be noted that the pipe 61 which extends into opencommunication with the upper roll 56 of the taping station is alsoconnected to the same source of vacuum. One side of the valve 65 isadditionally connected to the pipe 27 which extends into opencommunication with the upper roll 19 at the cutting station. A sliding Dtype valve plate 67 is disposed in operative relationship to the valve65 and serves to control the admission or stopping of the vacuum fromthe pipe 66 through the pipe 27 and the roll 19. The valve plate 67 isaffixed near the upper end of a valve lever 68 pivotally connected atits lower end as at 69 to the rear frame member 6. As viewed in Fig. 1of the drawings the valve lever 68 is provided intermediate its endswith a laterally projecting lug 70 which is adapted to contact the shaft58 of the upper taping roll 56 to limit the right-hand movement ofoscillation of the valve lever. A lug 71 having a rounded cam-followingsurface projects laterally in a direction opposite that of the lug 70and is adapted to be contacted by the lift portion of1 la 72 rigidlyaixed to the shaft 20 of the knife ro .When the valve lever 68 is in theposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the valve plate 67 has beenmoved to its right-hand limit of movement and the pipe 27 ex tendingfrom the roll 19 is uncovered and in open cornmunlcation with theatmosphere. Before a splicing cycle is to take place the machineoperator will manually move the valve lever 68 to the left a distancesufcient for the valve plate 67 to cover the open port whereby to admitvacuum to the knife roll 19 and to move the cam follower lug 71 intoposition whereby it can become contacted by the lift portion of the cam72 during rotation of the roll 19. In this manner the vacuum to the roll19 is automatically cut off before one complete revolution of the roll19 takes place. This, of course, will enable the lead end of the newroll H of paperboard to be relltleasesd from its vacuum-held position onthe face of the ro In the draw roll section C there is provided a lowerdraw roll 73 journalled between the frame members 5 and 6 with its uppersurface lying in the same plane as that which passes through the nips ofthe rolls of the cutting and taping stations A and B. The rear end ofthe roll 73 is provided with a shaft portion 74 which projects throughthe planetary gear box D and is provided at its outer end with a portion75 of reduced diameter. A sun gear 76 is rotatably carried by a ballbearing 77 mounted on the shaft 74 and is provided with a rearwardlyprojecting hub portion 78 which is supported upon the reduced diameterportion 75 of the shaft as by ball bearings 79. A sprocket gear 80 isfirmly axed to the rearwardly projecting hub portion 78 and is adaptedto be driven from the sprocket 13 by a sprocket glzxain 81 which passesover an intermediate idler sprocket A normally stationary spider 83provided with a peripheral worm gear 84 formed integral therewith isrotatably supported upon the shaft 74 as by ball bearing 85, 85. Thespider 83 rotatably carries three planetary gears 86 which are engagedin meshing relationship with the gears 76. Each of the planetary gears86 is provided with a transversely extending shaft 87, the other end ofwhich carries another planetary gear 88 which meshes with a second sungear 89 keyed to the shaft portion 74. In this manner power istransmitted to the shaft 74 from the sprocket 80 through the sun gear76, planetary gears 86 and 88 and sun gear 89. It will be appreciatedthat so long as the spider 83 is held stationary the shaft 74 will berotated in the same direction as the sprocket 80 and since the sun gears76 and 89 are of the same diameter and number of teeth and the planetarygears 86 and 88 are of the same diameter and number of teeth the speedof rotation of the shaft 74 will be the same as that of the sprocket.

Means are provided by which the spider 83 may be rotated in eitherdirection in order to either slightly accelerate or decelerate therotative speed of the shaft 74 and its associated draw roll 73. To thisend a shaft 90 is journalled in the planetary gear box D and is disposedwith its axis aligned with the median plane passing through the wormgear 84 formed on the spider 83. A worm 91 is rigidly affixed to theshaft 90 and meshes with the worm gear 84. One end of the shaft 90 isprovided with a relatively large gear 92 rigidly affixed thereto whichmeshes with a pinion 93 mounted upon the shaft 94 of a reversible motor95.

An upper draw roll 96 is rotatably carried by a pair of spaced parallelarms 97, 97 aiixed to a rock shaft 98 journalled between the main framemembers 5 and 6. The outer ends of the arms 97 are engaged by springloading devices generally indicated at 99 in order that contact pressurebetween the upper and lower draw rolls may be easily adjusted. For thepurpose of raising the upper draw roll 96 from contact with the lowerdraw roll 73 the spring loading devices 99 are connected with aneccentrically mounted shaft 100 which can be rotated by a handle 101 toraise the ends of the arms 97 and the roll 96 carried thereby.

After the paperboard web leaves the draw rolls station C it is directeddownwardly and under a decurling bar 102 adjustably clamped between theouter ends of a pair of spaced parallel arms 103, 103, the inner ends ofwhich are axed to a rock shaft 104 journalled between the front and rearframe members 5 and 6. The decurling bar 102 is employed to remove thecurl imparted to paperboard as the result of having been rolled up onthe supply roll. It will be noted from Fig. of the drawings that thedecurling bar presents surface areas whose radii of curvature from theaxis of the bar vary over different portions. This is in order that thedecurling effect of the bar may be varied by changing its position aboutits axis and thus causing the paperboard web to contact portions ofdifferent curvature. The adjusting means for this include a forwardlyprojecting stub shaft 105 formed integrally with the decurling bar 102to which is attached an adjusting lever 106 having a transverselyextending arcuate slot 107 formed therein with a radius of curvatureequal to the distance from the axis of the slot to the axis of thedecurling bar 102. A threaded stud 108 is mounted on the forward arm 103and extends through the slot 107 of the adjusting arm 106. A clamphandle 109 is threadably engaged with the stud 108 and serves to clampthe adjusting lever 106 into any desired position relative to the arm103.

The arms 103 and the decurling bar 102 together form a bail which isadapted to swing about the axis of the rock shaft 104 to maintain a deepbight in the paperboard web which passes around the decurling bar, andin order that suicient frictional Contact may be maintained between thedecurling bar and the web the bail is weighted as by a transverselyextending weight roll 110 adjustably mounted between the arms 103.

The forward end of the rock shaft 104 is provided with an upwardlyextending cam segment 111 having a pair of cam lobes 112, 112 formed onits upper edge portion.

A normally open micro-switch 113 provided with an actuating finger 114is operatively positioned adjacent one of the cam lobes 112 and a secondnormally open microswitch 115 having an actuating finger 116 isoperatively positioned adjacent the other cam lobe 112. The twomicro-switches 113 and 115 are connected to the reversible motor bysuitable wiring (not shown) so that whenever the decurling bar 102becomes lowered as a result of too fast a feed rate of the web by themain draw rolls such lowering of the decurling bar will effect anoscillation of the rock shaft 104 and the cam 111 in a clockwisedirection so that the left-hand cam lobe 112 will close the micro-switchthrough motion of the finger 116 to operate the motor 95 in such adirection that the spider 83 of the planetary gear system D will berotated in a direction the same as the direction of rotation of thelower draw roll 73 and thus effect a slight reduction in the operativespeed of the draw rolls. A reduction in speed of the draw rolls in thismanner will cause the bight formed in the web as it passes around thedecurling bar 102 to become shortened and to raise the decurling bar.This will effect an oscillation of the rock shaft 104 in acounterclockwise direction whereupon the micro-switch 115 will again beopened as a result of its finger 116 becoming disengaged from theleft-hand cam lobe 112, and the motor 95 will be stopped, whereupon thelower draw roll 73 will resume its regular rotative speed. If thedecurling bar 102 is raised further by additional shortening of thebight of the web as by a slight increase in speed of the associatedprinting or blank cutting machine such further raising of the decurlingbar will further effect an oscillation of the cam 111 counterclockwiseto cause the micro-switch 113 to become closed as a result of engagementof its actuating finger 114 with the right-hand cam lobe 112 to causethe motor 95 to run in a direction such that the main spider 83 of theplanetary gear system D will be rotated in a direction contrary to thatof the lower draw roll 73 and thus slightly speed up the rotative speedof the draw roll. This will cause the bight in the web passing aroundthe decurling bar 102 to again deepen so that the decurling bar 102 willbecome lowered and the cam 111 will be rotated clockwise to effectopening of the micro-switch 113 by disengagement of its actuating finger114 with the right-hand cam lobe 112 to stop the motor 95 and permit thedraw roll 73 to resume its normal rotative speed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that through the use ofthe reversible motor 95 and the control thereof effective through thetension control means E, either a speeding up or a slowing down of theweb may be effected. It is, of course, entirely feasible to employ auni-directional motor in connection with the planetary gear D in thoseinstances in w ich it is desirable to only vary the speed of advance ofthe web in one direction, that is, to either periodically slow the speedof advance or speed it up. In the case where the associated printing orblank cutting machine would be operated at a nearly fixed web speed itmay be desirable to operate the web splicer and its draw rolls at aslightly reduced speed. Then when the bight in the web as it passesaround the decurling bar 102 becomes shortened the cam 111 would beelective to initiate action of the planetary gear driving motor toslightly increase the speed of the draw rolls 73. In this case, ofcourse, it would be necessary to employ only a single micro-switchrather than the two which are employed in connection with the reversiblemotor.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the operationof this machine will be clear a brief outline of one cycle of operationof the rolls of the cutting and taping stations will be given by way ot'review.

As will be seen from Fig. l of the drawings, the supply roll G ofpaperboard is being drawn over an idler roll 117 through the machine bythe draw rolls 73 and 96 While the fresh supply H is in a standbyposition with its lead end passing under an upper idler roll 118 andthence upwardly in a free bight with its end proper held by the vacuumrecesses 28 on the upper cutting roll 19 adjacent the projectingedge ofthe knife 34. (See Fig. 4.) At this time the rolls of the taping stationB are in the position shown in Fig. 7 so that web G passes freelybetween the rolls of both the cutting and taping stations. The uppertaping roll 56 has had positioned thereon a strip of adhesive tape 119of sufficient width to properly secure a butt splice between the websand which is held in place by being engaged over the radial apertures 60of the taping roll.

When it comes time for a splice to be made to the tail end of the supplyroll G the vacuum pump (not shown) is started in order to pull air fromthe roll 56 through the apertures 60 thereof to rmly hold the tape 119thereon and also to pull air from the valve assembly 65. The valve lever68 is shifted to the left from the position shown in Fig. l in orderthat air may be pulled from the recesses 28 through the pipe 27 to holdfirmly the lead end of the fresh web of paperboard from the supply rollH. Once the tape has been applied to the roll 56 and the lead end of thenew web has been positioned adjacent the knife of the roll 19 the clutchhandle 49 is pulled to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 in order to engagethe clutch and drive all of the rolls of the cutting and tapingstations.

As the rolls 19 and 22 of the cutting station rotate in oppositedirections the knife 34 will approach contact with the cutting plate 39and when the rolls reach the position shown in Fig. 5 the old web G Willbecome transversely severed and the lead end of the new web H will bepositioned in substantial abutting relation with the line of severance.As the rolls continue to rotate there will be line or nip contactbetween the cylindrical portion of the bottom roll 22 and theresiliently covered portion of the top roll 19 with the web H heldtherebetween and advanced thereby. It will be appreciated that the gearratios of the driving connections for the cutting station A as well asfor the taping station B are such that the eifective speed of advance ofthe web held between the nips of each pair of rolls will be identicalwith the speed of web advance effected by the main draw rolls 73 and 96.

At the start of the splicing cycle the rolls of the taping station B areas shown in Fig. 7, and as they revolve after engagement of the clutch14 the tape 119 carried thereby will be brought into engagement with thetrailing edge of the expiring web G and the leading edge of the new webH, and the nip pressure between the upper and lower taping rolls 56 and62 will be sutlicient to firmly press the tape into adheringrelationship with the webs and thus complete the splice. It will benoted that no means have been shown for releasing the vacuum pulledthrough the apertures 60 since the tape 119 is readily peeled from thesurface of the upper roll 56 as a result of its adhesive bond with thewebs.

As the rolls of the cutting and taping stations A and B have rotatedapproximately 90 the cam 72 carried on the shaft 20 of the cutting roll19 becomes effective to move the valve lever 68 to the right as shown inFig. l and thus interrupt the vacuum to the recesses 28 and place themin open communication with the atmosphere in order that the web H may bequickly released from its position adjacent the surface of the roll 19.

As rotation of the rolls of the cutting and taping stations continuesuntil nearly one full revolution has been completed, the cam 41 mountedon the end of the lower roll shaft 23 becomes effective to disengage theclutch 14 as a result of contact with the follower plate 44 (see Fig.3). In this manner the rolls of the cutting and taping stations revolvethrough only one revolution for each splicing operation.

After the web leaves the draw roll station C and is brought downwardlyunder the decurling bar 102 it is brought upwardly over an idler roll120 and thence downwardly around a lower idler roll 121 from which it isintroduced into the associated printing or blank cutting machine.

It is, of course, to be understood that various details of arrangementsand proportions of parts may be modified within the scope of theappended claims.

l claim:

l. Apparatus for butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard comprisingmeans for continuously advancing a web of paperboard. means positionedahead of said webadvancing means for supporting the lead end of a newweb of paperboard and for transversely severing an old web ot`paperboard while simultaneously advancing the new web in abuttingrelation to the line of severance, and means interposed between saidweb-advancing and said severing means for applying a securing tape overthe butt joint between said webs as said webs are being continuouslyadvanced.

2. Apparatus for butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard comprisingmeans for continuously advancing a web of paperboard, means positionedahead of said webadvancing means for supporting the lead end of a newweb of paperboard and for transversely severing an old web of paperboardwhile simultaneously advancing the new web in abutting relation to theline of severance, means interposed vbetween said web-advancing and saidsevering means for applying a securing tape over the butt joint betweensaid webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, andweb-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed ofsaid web-advancing means.

3. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls,intermittently operable means positioned ahead of said draw rolls forsupporting the lead end of a new web of paperboard and for transverselysevering an old web of paperboard while simultaneously advancing the newweb in abutting relation to the line of severance, intermittentlyoperable means interposed between said draw rolls and said severingmeans for applying a securing tape over the butt joint between said websas said webs are being continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsivecontrol means for actuating said draw roll speed-varying means.

4. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinallyextending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of theline of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarilyholding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knifeblade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency betweensaid rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard webtherebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with acutting plate normally angularly oifset to the same degree that theknife blade on said upper roll is oifset, a taping station includingintermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll beingprovided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tapefor splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line oftangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a atarea normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane oftangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of apaperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made, andmeans for intermittently and synchronously driving the rolls of saidcutting and taping stations whereby to form and tape a butt splicebetween said old and new webs as said webs are being continuouslyadvanced.

5. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinallyextending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of theline of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarilyholding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knifeblade, said lower roll being provided with a at area normally positionedsubstantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rollswhereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween exceptwhen a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normallyangularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upperroll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means fortemporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securingpurposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between saidrolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency betweensaid rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard webtherebetween except when a splice is being made, and manually-startedautomatically-stopped means for synchronously driving the rolls of saidcutting and taping stations one revolution only during each splicingoperation whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said old andnew webs as said webs are being continuously advanced.

6. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudlnallyextending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of theline of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarilyholding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knifeblade, said lower roll being provided with a at area normally positionedsubstantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rollswhereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween exceptwhen a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normallyangularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upperroll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means fortemporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securingpurposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between saidrolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency betweensaid rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard webtherebetween except when a splice is being made, means forintermittently and synchronously driving the rolls of said cutting andtaping stations whereby to form and tape a butt splice between said oldand new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, andweb-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed ofsaid draw rolls.

7. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, a cutting station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinallyextending radially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of theline of tangency between said rolls and with means for temporarilyholding the leading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knifeblade, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency betweensaid rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard webtherebetween except when a splice is being made and provided with acutting plate normally angularly offset to the same degree that theknife blade on said upper roll is offset, a taping station includingintermittently operable upper and lower rolls, said upper roll beingprovided with means for temporarily holding a length of adhesive tapefor splice-securing purposes in a position well away from the line oftangency between said rolls, said lower roll being provided with a flatarea normally positioned substantially parallel with the plane oftangency between said rolls whereby to permit free passage of apaperboard web therebetween except when a splice is being made,manually-started automaticallystopped means for synchronously drivingthe rolls of said cutting and taping stations one revolution only duringeach splicing operation whereby to form and tape a butt splice betweensaid old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced, andweb-tension-responsive control means for varying the effective speed ofsaid draw rolls.

8. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls,a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lowerrolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extendingradially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line oftangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding theleading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, saidlower roll being provided with a flat area normally posi tionedsubstantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rollswhereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween exceptwhen a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normallyangularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upperroll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means fortemporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securingpurposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between saidrolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned parallel with the plane of tangency between said rollswhereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween exceptwhen a splice is being made, means for intermittently and synchronouslydriving the rolls of said cutting and taping stations whereby to formand tape a butt splice between said old and new webs as said webs arebeing continuously advanced, and web-tension-responsive control meansfor actuating said draw roll speed-varying means.

9. A machine for automatically butt-splicing moving webs of paperboard,comprising a pair of draw rolls for continuously advancing a web ofpaperboard, means for varying the speed of rotation of said draw rolls,a cutting station including intermittently operable upper and lowerrolls, said upper roll being provided with a longitudinally extendingradially projecting knife blade normally positioned out of the line oftangency between said rolls and with means for temporarily holding theleading edge of a new web of paperboard against said knife blade, saidlower roll being provided with a flat area normally positionedsubstantially parallel with the plane of tangency between said rollswhereby to permit free passage of a paperboard web therebetween exceptwhen a splice is being made and provided with a cutting plate normallyangularly offset to the same degree that the knife blade on said upperroll is offset, a taping station including intermittently operable upperand lower rolls, said upper roll being provided with means fortemporarily holding a length of adhesive tape for splice-securingpurposes in a position well away from the line of tangency between saidrolls, said lower roll being provided with a flat area normallypositioned substantially parallel with the plane of tangency betweensaid rolls whereby to permit free passage of a paperboard webtherebetween except when a splice is being made, web-tension-responsivecontrol means for actuating said draw roll speed-varying means, andmanually-started automatically-stopped means for synchronously drivingthe rolls of said cutting and taping stations one revolution only duringeach splicing operation whereby to form and tape a butt splice betweensaid old and new webs as said webs are being continuously advanced` 10.A machine in accordance with claim 9 in which the draw rollspeed-varying means comprises a planetary gear train including a drivingsun gear, a rotatably mounted but normally stationary spider, aplurality of sets of planetary gears rotatably carried by said spider, adriven sun gear connected to one of said draw rolls, said planetarygears being operably connected with said sun gears, and means actuatedby said web-tensionresponsive control means for rotating said spiderwhereby to vary the speed of said driven sun gear with respect to thedriving sun gear.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,828,997 Collins Oct. 27, 1931 1,850,706 Collins Mar. 22, 19321,931,953 Cameron Oct. 24, 1933 2,606,136 Garrett et al. Aug. 5, 1952

